New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-17
OPINIONS OF COMMISSIONER PIERSON.
MILO WANTED THE LAW f--HOw IT WILL AFFECT

WHO WANTED THE LAW f--HOW WILL AftECi
PASSENGER TRAFFIC..
Just before Passenger Commissioner Samuel r.
Person of tho line association took his trip to
Chicago week, he asked for his views Of the
Interstate Commerce law. After chewing the cud
Of reflection he replied
"The difficulty in making the law appears to have
been that instead Of taking the advice Of MI Culoms
committee the managers on the part Of the House
had written to all the soreheads In the country In
order to get a wagon load OF complaints as basis
for legislation. When We reflect on the number OF
people in the United States who want something for
nothing from q railroad company, and who always
consider themselves injured If their particular axe Is
not ground at the public expense it will not be sur
prisng that this basis for legislation should DO
crude and improper and that the resulting law
exhibits some startling effects.
1.-The constructions placed upon the law by counsel
OF the various railroad companies have had much TO
do with increasing tho confusion. II the railroad
managers felt free to adopt their own common sense
construction, they would undoubtedly have pro-
cecdcd upon something Like equitable lines, but they
have generally Thoughtful proper " accept the construc-
ton of their legal advisers and the opinions Of these
wso men regarding the practical aappEcati0n Of tho
law In detail would make curious mosaic they
could DO published together The particular conundrum
which seems 10 agitate the public mind just now IL
Who wanted that law anyway 1t has been in
up In arms against its most important provision; the
great Northwest Is squcaiing iike pig unecr gate;
pending It's acton right and lett with rcadiic 81
indicating eir conviction that this provision Of the
law 10 more honorcd In the breach tnan the Observ-
ance. somebody Is complaining in every department
Of our domestic commerce because he has been do
privcd Of Some privilege OF some special adjust
inent Of means " ends, by the operation OF arbl
trary rule imposed by the National Legislature The
great public Will never know, aud even railroad men
themselvcs arc surprised 70 ind, how many conoes-
directions in the effort Of tho railroads to accommO
date the business upon which they depend fof RIVE
nue..
commission to collect statistics and recommend legi;-
tion requiring tho publication Of tariffs and pro-
hibiting In general terms, unjust and unreasonable
discrimination, it would have inaugurated reforms
without any shock 10 business and without exciting
between the people and tho railroads, the people
and tho Government any Of that prejudice which Ia
almost certain u grow out Of this execution Of the
present Ew: Tho railroads have heretofore done
one leading anc important exception. Tho most
unjust determinations have grown directly out Of
VprDstricted competition. 1t was proper that these
1sed4inations should Be prohibited. Tho act, how:
4vee. Aaa abolIshed tho best system yet invented
to- 10 easy and natural prevention Of unjust dis.
cf(mstaon and substituted an almost impractcabie
Pa ~ application to passenger business it Is ex'